Under a group of bills signed last week by Gov. Phil Murphy, residents of New Jersey’s three veterans homes, including the Veterans Memorial Home Vineland, would be able to leave the facility in times of public emergency, including health emergencies.

Any resident can be cared for elsewhere by loved ones for 60 days without giving up their rights to their place at the veterans home.

Covid fatalities were very high last year at the Menlo Park and Paramus locations, but significantly lower at Vineland. Some high level supervisors were dismissed and some are being investigated for the failure to protect patients at the northern New Jersey facilities.

Some families have sued the state for gross negligence, claiming masks and other protective equipment were not shared and infected people were not kept apart from those with Covid.

NJ Assembly members Vincent Mazzeo and John Armato (both D-2), Atlantic Co. and Annette Chaparro (D-33), Hudson Co, sponsored the bills.